Sophie Carnell

Sort by

Sophie’s work celebrates the beauty of the ocean and considers the ubiquity of marine debris. Plastic was not invented when the first European settlers came to Tasmania, yet with only just over one hundred years since it was invented it is all pervasive. With our escalating consumption of single use plastics what legacy do we leave for generations to come? Are these the sort of treasures that will be passed through the generations?

While celebrating the natural beauty of the ocean Sophie hopes that by using ocean debris and fishing line alongside precious materials and incorporating them into treasured objects we might question what we view as valuable; what we view as disposable; and what effects our actions have on the natural environment.

About the Artist

Sophie is a contemporary jeweller working out of her studio on Bruny Island while being inspired by the stunning landscape of Southern Tasmania. Having initially completed short courses in jewellery design after finishing her Fine Arts degree at UTAS, she has gone on to teach herself an array of skills in jewellery creation using a diverse range of media.

Sophie’s jewellery practice explores relationships to landscape, place and interconnections with our environment – whether her own or of people long gone. Precious metals and natural and found materials are combined and transformed into objects and wearable tokens that carry an essence of this beautiful land in which we live. Her works speak of the effects that landscape can have on people and conversely the effect that humans can have on their landscape.

Sophie has been shortlisted as a finalist in a number of prizes including the prestigious Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize (2015) and was also awarded Highly Commended finalist in the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize (2014).